2013 Free Dining Watch

[aaarcher86]

When did that change happen? We had FD dates only part of our stay last trip but received the FD and tickets (6 day) were acceptable the entire stay.

It's not a change, but they go by the check in date. If you check in during FD you'll get it the length of stay. You can't check in before it starts and have it start in the middle.

Doing a room only for one night and starting your package on the 29th allows your check in day for the package to on a day FD is being offered.

 

[smitch425]

When did that change happen? We had FD dates only part of our stay last trip but received the FD and tickets (6 day) were acceptable the entire stay.

Nothing has changed. You must check in on a covered FD date to get FD for your stay. So if your trip starts prior to the FD offer, you have to book a split stay and check out and back in on the covered FD date to get the deal. You can check in on the last covered date and have FD for your entire stay up to 14 nights.

 

[lauradis]

I think you guys will need to start a new thread by Tuesday 404k views thats just crazy

 

[POROct2013]

I just found this thread (wow, is it ever long)! Total newbie here!

We have already booked and paid for our stay in October for a Royal Guest Room at POR, including the DDP. If the FD offer does happen, what do I do? Do I call Reservations and have it applied to our account (in this case, would we just get a credit because we already paid for the DP)? I read in this thread that you should have back up rooms/resorts picked out. Why is that? If I already have a reservation, aren't they just updating my reservation? They wouldn't cancel it and then try to re-book, would they?

I am just wondering if it is worth it for us. I mean saving the $$$ would be great but I don't know if I want to risk losing our reservation in a RGR at the POR.

Sorry for the totally newbie question!!

 

[KermitRinny]

I just found this thread (wow, is it ever long)! Total newbie here!

We have already booked and paid for our stay in October for a Royal Guest Room at POR, including the DDP. If the FD offer does happen, what do I do? Do I call Reservations and have it applied to our account (in this case, would we just get a credit because we already paid for the DP)? I read in this thread that you should have back up rooms/resorts picked out. Why is that? If I already have a reservation, aren't they just updating my reservation? They wouldn't cancel it and then try to re-book, would they?

I am just wondering if it is worth it for us. I mean saving the $$$ would be great but I don't know if I want to risk losing our reservation in a RGR at the POR.

Sorry for the totally newbie question!!

If your check in date falls within the FD dates then the easiest thing would be to call reservations. They would do everything for you and you would get a credit for the free dining. People say to have a backup room/resort because some of the room types/resorts sell out quickly. They only release a certain amount of rooms per resort for FD. In the past, for me, they have only updated (as in not had to refund my whole amount and recharge me) my res and then refunded the difference. In some cases (and I'm not sure what they are Smitch would know) some people have had to refund the entire res and recharge the new one. There is another thread that has the dates listed and everyone seems to be over there. I'll see if I can link it.

 

[McKelly]

I just found this thread (wow, is it ever long)! Total newbie here!

We have already booked and paid for our stay in October for a Royal Guest Room at POR, including the DDP. If the FD offer does happen, what do I do? Do I call Reservations and have it applied to our account (in this case, would we just get a credit because we already paid for the DP)? I read in this thread that you should have back up rooms/resorts picked out. Why is that? If I already have a reservation, aren't they just updating my reservation? They wouldn't cancel it and then try to re-book, would they?

I am just wondering if it is worth it for us. I mean saving the $$$ would be great but I don't know if I want to risk losing our reservation in a RGR at the POR.

Sorry for the totally newbie question!!

I wouldn't worry too much about losing your Royal Guest Room. When FD is released, most of the rooms they block out are going to be the lower priced rooms, standard and garden view. The rooms they offer with Free Dining are the higher priced rooms, such as your Royal Guest Room. That's been my experience anyway...

 

[POROct2013]

I wouldn't worry too much about losing your Royal Guest Room. When FD is released, most of the rooms they block out are going to be the lower priced rooms, standard and garden view. The rooms they offer with Free Dining are the higher priced rooms, such as your Royal Guest Room. That's been my experience anyway...

Thank you. We actually booked the RGR River View so it is the highest level we can get. We wouldn't mind changing to another view (downgrading) but we still want the RGR. I hope it will all be okay *if* they offer FD.

 

[pdragone]

We have a trip booked thru AAA for Nov 4 to Nov 11 at POR. Hearing all kinds of rumors about free dining and saw that one of the ossible weeks ends on Nov 2. I know you get free dining if you check in during the promotion so wondering if it would be worth it to change the trip to Nov 2 to Nov 9. That does change my fights from Mon to Mon to sat to sat so just wanted to get some thoughts

 

[disneyfantotheend]

We have a trip booked thru AAA for Nov 4 to Nov 11 at POR. Hearing all kinds of rumors about free dining and saw that one of the ossible weeks ends on Nov 2. I know you get free dining if you check in during the promotion so wondering if it would be worth it to change the trip to Nov 2 to Nov 9. That does change my fights from Mon to Mon to sat to sat so just wanted to get some thoughts

How much would it cost to change flights? If you would still be saving a lot even after paying change fees, I would do it.

 

[kermitman18]

Not sure if anyone mentioned this yet, but I was just able to grab a standard room with free dining at Wilderness Lodge,

This room category was not previously available. Saves me $200 on my trip. We had originally booked a Woods View.

I hope someone else can benefit from this news.

 

[doberlady]

what are your dates Kermitman???

 

[smitch425]

what are your dates Kermitman???

From his ticker, he is going in September.

 

[kermitman18]

what are your dates Kermitman???

September 17th - 24th

 

[hivemama]

When they release official dates for free dining, where is it usually posted first?

 

[aaarcher86]

When they release official dates for free dining, where is it usually posted first?

Here or in the FD thread on the discounts sticky of the resort board.

 

[hivemama]

Sorry, I wasn't very clear lol! I meant where is the first place Disney announces it? Their site? Do they release it to certain bloggers, the Disney Visa since most of the time it's open to members first?

 

[smitch425]

Sorry, I wasn't very clear lol! I meant where is the first place Disney announces it? Their site? Do they release it to certain bloggers, the Disney Visa since most of the time it's open to members first?

www.disneyrewards.com, but likely not until mid morning on the day it goes live.

 

[disneyfantotheend]

Sorry, I wasn't very clear lol! I meant where is the first place Disney announces it? Their site? Do they release it to certain bloggers, the Disney Visa since most of the time it's open to members first?

I can understand not 100% believing the information on here, but really what does it hurt to call Monday morning and ask. Worse case scenario, they tell you it isn't available. Or you can just wait for the official announcement, which sometimes doesn't happen until hours later.

 

[hivemama]

Oh! It's not that I don't believe the info posted here! I just didn't know if it was released somewhere else first that I could be watching for. Sorry, didn't mean to offend.

 

[disneyfantotheend]

Oh! It's not that I don't believe the info posted here! I just didn't know if it was released somewhere else first that I could be watching for. Sorry, didn't mean to offend.

You didn't offend me at all. I just thought maybe you didn't know you can just call Monday morning. You don't need a code or anything. Good luck!